Index or file



A. E. HUNT INDEX 0R FILE Dec. 30, 1930.

Filed Jan. 19, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l numuhw Dec. 30, 1930. A. E. HUNT 1,786,616

INDEX OR FILE Filed Jan. 19, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @www atentecl Dec. 3G, 1930 ,Y herren STATES PATENT @FFEQE ALFRED E. HUNT, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO REMINGTON RAND INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION F DELAWARE INDEX OR FILE Application led January 19, 1924. Serial No. 687,314.

My invention relates to record members for indexes or tiles of al type that are adapted for use with holders or frames, upon or in which the reference members or index cards are ar- 5 ranged in overlapping relation to each other with either an upper or lower margin of each exposed to view so that indicia thereon will be visible without manipulati-on of the reference member.

More particularly my invention relates to al reference member or card of this type composed of a base portion and a flap portion connected together and arranged to allow the swinging of the flap portion relatively to the base portion, in order that data upon the underside of the flap portion or uponfthe underlying card may be exposed for reference thereto.

Such types of reference members usually are provided with means located upon the base portion, or cooperating therewith, whereby the member may be detachably or otherwise secured upon a Carrying strip or other means mounted or provided in a holding frame or other supporting or storage device.`

The flap portions of such reference members are arranged sothat the same may be detached from the base portions for ling the same away in a record box or the like. yThese 39 flap portions are occasionally provided with pockets or other securing means ywhereby either separate slips or additional cards may be secured thereon in order to provide addip tional space for the data required for refer- 39 ence. j

It is desirable, therefore, that reference members of this type be of such construction and adapted for such arrangement that they n be readily applied to such holder or support. that 'they be provided with an elticient and substantial, strong hinge joint between the base portion and the flap portion, this oint, however, being of such a nature that ,l the two portions may be easily separated; that 'm means be'provided whereby additional cards or sheets may be added to overlie the flap portions and in certain respects cooperate therewith; and that the reference members be economical to manufacture and eiiicient in use.

'd It is especially desirable that the above-mentioned hinge joint between the base portion rand the flap portion be of such construction that continuous manipulation of the reference member will not cause the two portions to tear apart and be separated and that the additional reference sheets secured upon the reference members and held thereby, do not, in any manner, interfere with the hinging action of this joint.

Many cards have been supplied comprising a flap portion hingedly secured to a base portion by creasing the material intermediate the same, or attaching the two portions together by a strip of flexible fabric or the like, or by a so-called weakened line being provided between the two in the material thereof. These types have been fairly eiicient but contain various undesirable features and disadvantages. The creased material has been found to be too stiff at the hinged joint and difficulty has been experienced in its useY in that after bending the flap portion in order to expose an underlying card, the bent material at the joint does not readily allow the return of the flap to a flat position but tends to hold the same partially raised above the surface of the underlying card.` The cards composed of two separate portions secured together by a strip of fabric, in some respects avoided this difficulty but resisted separation Vofthe portions and were comparatively more expensive to manufacture. The weakened line type, while somewhat avoiding the disadvantages mentioned above, has been found to be too easily torn apart and consequently would not stand the continuous manipulation required of cards in indexes of this type.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a reference member comprising a base portion and a flap portion hingedly connected together, which will have all of the desirable features above mentioned, without the undesirable ones, to which reference has been made.

Another object of my invention is to provide such a card or reference member as will be adapted to retain additional sheets thereon, and which will be economical to manufacture.

Another object of my invention is the pro- 109 vision in a card or reference member of this character, ot an arrangement or means to hold additional cards or sheets of various forms and in various combinations as predetermined and desi red by the user, which additional cards, while overlying the flap portion, will also be swingingiy supported upon the member and will in no manner interfere with the hingiug action oit the lioint between the base and tlap portions thereof.

(hie type ot reference member providing the features and principles ot my invention is illust 'ated in the accon'ipanying drawings, in which Fig. Il shows a card support having means adapted to engage cards of this type, mounted upon which is shown a plurality of such cards;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of one of the reference members on line 3-B of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4c is a. section of one ot the reference members similar to Fig. 3, except that the flap portion and additional card thereon have been turned back over the base portion;

Fig. 5 is a plan View of reference member showing only the additional card turned back over the base portion;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 ot Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a` plan view ot' the reference member having a pair voit additional cards supported thereby;

Fig. 8 is a section on line 8 8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a somewhat moditied arrangement, wherein a pair of double cards are supported by the reference member;

Fig. 10 is a section on line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 shows a plan view of a reference member having a pair of additional cards on each side of the iap portion, the additional cards being supported thereon by still another arran gemert;

Fig. 12 is a section on line 12-12 ot Fig. 11;

Fig. 1 3 is a plan view o't the ca ds shown in Fig. 11. the upi'iermost card o one of the pairs ot additicnal ones being turned bach over the base portion Fig. la is a section. on line of F 11, except that the uppermost ad ditioual card on either side shown raised to expose the underlying card;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged end view of a reference member at the joint showing` the shape of the joint when the flap portion is turned back over the base portion; and,

Fig. 16 is a section through a reference member showing the positions taken by the various portions when the i'lap portion swung outwardly from the support.

The frame or reference member holder 2() represented in Fig. 1, is a portion ot a leaf adapted to support reference members ot the type selected, and is illust ated for the purpose oi showing one way in which reference members of this type can be advantageously used. The patent to R. D. Hayes, No. 1,223,168 dated April 17, 1917, fully describes this type oi' holder. The invention, however, is not intended to be limited cards or reference members adapted only 'for use with this type oit holder in which, as is obvious, the reference .iembers are arranged in a downhanging or upstanding position, but in many respects is applicable to reference members supported in other 'orms of holders, such as shallow trays, drawers, racks, etc.

The reference members 21, represented in Fig. 1, as mounted upon the trams 20, are composed ot two portions, a base portion 22 and a. flap portion 23. Overlying the flap portion 23, an additional sheet or card Li() is shown, the use and arrangement of which will beI explained later. The base portion 22 of this reference member is provided with a pair of struck-out tongues 25 and 26 which are sprung rearwardly and slipped beneath the respective flanges and 28 of a retaining strip 29, and by such engagement is detachably secured thereto. The retaining strip 29 is shown secured by rivets 30 upon the holder 20. rfhe construction and use of the tongues and 26 and the cooperation thereof with the retaining strip 29 of the type selected for illustration, is fully described in the patent to Irving Fisher, No. 1,048,056 dated Deceniber 2st, 1912, and forms in itself no part ot this invention.

The base portion 22 and the flap or datareceiving portion 23 ot the reference mem' bers are preferably formed from the same sheet o'rn material being integrally connected at 31 by means of a series oi' spaced-apart hinge members 32. rl`hese hinge members 3.2 may be formed by stamping out portions oi' the sheet of material across the same at 31 whereby elongated openings are termed therein between the hinge members 32, and

Vwhich divides the sheet into the base and g, yllhe 'tlap portion 23 may be bent bacl upon the base portion as shown in Fig. 15, without undue strain being caused upon the material at the joint 81 and will resume its liatwise position., as in 1, without remaining slightly raised. Constant manipulation eflects only a slight presence of the tendllO ency of the material at 3l to tear and under normal usage the oint between the two portions will outlive the usefulness oi' the iiap portion as a data-receiving member. This is due to the provision of the spaced hinged members 32 having a certain amount of length which causes the bend of the same, when the flap portion is swung out or its normal position, to assume the arcuate shape shown at 34 in Figs. 4, 15 and 16. Because of assuming this arcuate shape, lesscompression of the material occurs at the inner portion of the bend and less stretching occurs at the outer portion 36, which prevents the material at this point from being forced beyond its elastic limit and obviates the above-mentioned tendency of the tlap portion to remain in the position in which it was bent. In addition to this marked improvement in a hinged reference member or index card, the base or flap portions may be easily separated by tearing the material oiE the hinged members 32.

Because of the above novel construction of the reference member 21 at the joint 31, between the flap portion and the base portion, the addition of other sheets or cards providing added space for data is made possible. TVarious forms and arrangements are shown in the drawings. In Figs. 1 to 6, the addr tional sheet or card is designated as 40, in Figs. 7 and 8 as 41, in Figs 9 and 10, as 42, and in Figs. 11 to 14, inclusive, as These various forms of added sheets or cards are secured upon the reference member in substantially the same manner but in various arrangements. Y

The reference member 20, above described, may be formed so as to provide a pair ot eXtra long elongated openings 44, which may be located in any desirable position along the joint 3l, preferably equally spaced from the center. The openings 44, or if not provided, the openings 33 provide spaces for spleet securing member 45. The sheet or card scour ing member 45 is preferably formed from flexible material and provided with an adhesive on one of its surfaces. The members 45 are threaded through the openings 44 or a pair of the openings 33, and have one end of each applied to the rear surface oi the 'flap portion 23 by means 'oi the adhesive, while the other end is applied to the `iront surfaceof the added sheet 4() or" Fig. 1. This arrangement, which is clearly shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, provides av double i'iap reisrence vmember in which one or" the flaps is hingedly connected to the base portion and the other flap is hingedly connected the i'irst-mentioned flap. Due to the lezrible nature of the securing member 45. the flap may independently swing yrelatively to the other flap 23, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and in full lines in Fig. 6. Due to the spacing apart of the base portion 22 and the greatly facilitates reference to the data there-,'-

on or the post-ing of additional data. Both flaps may be turned back upon the base portion and because of the construction of the joint between the base portion 22 and the flap portion 23, will lie flatwise upon the. .j,v

base portion which readily allows reference to data upon the underside of the flap portion 23 and facilitates posting other data thereon. This is clearly illustrated in Fig. 4.

In Figs. 7 and 8, two additional cards 41 are;r

shown, one on either side of thel flap portion 23. The securing member 46 in this caseis similar to the member but the arrangement for securing the cards 41 to the reference member 21 is somewhat dii'erent. The

iembers 46 are either threaded through elongated openings 47, or a pair of the openings 33 when the openings 47 are not provided, and the ends thereof are applied respectively by means ot the adhesive to opposite surfaces of each oi the cards 41. In this manner, the cards 41 are hung by means of the member 46 upon the upper edge of the flap portion 23 and overlie opposite sides thereof, each additional card in this arrangement being the means which prevents the removal of the other. like the Jform illustrated in Fig. 1, etc., thereis no interference between the added cards and their connecting means with the hinging action of the joint 31 oi'. the reterence member. Either of the added cards may be swung independent of the other, up-

wardly away from the 'Hap 23 and will lie flatwise upon the base 22 in like manner, as previously described regarding card 40. Each additional card also is adapted to swing independently oi the nap portion 23, or both added cards with the flap portion 23 may be swung relatively to the base portion ln Figs. 9 and 10 a pair ot' cards orsheets of a somewhat modified form are shown at 42. The cards 42-are folded to form double sheets and have the securing members applied at the told. The arrangement oi the securing member for the same is somewhat similar to the previously described arrangement shown in Figs. 7 and 8. VBy the use oit this form ot card or sheet, eXtra space allowance for data is provided which is desirable when the index or tile is used for certain purposes as a double length sheet is presented when the upper page oi' the folded sheet` is bent bacl: upon the base portion ln Figs. l1 to v14, inclusive, another arrangement is shown in which four cards 43 are suspended in a somewhat similar manner, as are the two cards shown in Figs. 7 and 8. ln this form, however, thereis a pair of cards upon each side ot the l flap. The

cards adjacent the flap portion 23 are secured together and the cards overlying these are secured together. Two pairs oi extra long elongated opening-s are shown provided in the reference member in this arrangement,

as shown at 48 and 49. Either pair oi openings 47 and 48 may be used tor threading either pair of the card-securing means therethrough, or two pairs of the openings 33 may be used when the openings 48 and 49 are not provided. In this arrangement, as in the preceding ones, the added cards may be folded back upon the base portion and will lie flatwise thereon, or the entire combination of the same or any portion thereof may likewise be folded back upon the base portion.

Reference members ot the type above described therefore are adaptable tor use in many ways and with additional cards in various arrangements, at the same time retaining their advantageous and desirable teatures. IVhen a plurality ot reference menibers such as illustrated or described, are used in an index or file, the index or tile becomes a readily extensible and continuous one. Considerable data referring to the same subject matter may be added to any one ot the original index or reference members and be positively retained adjacent thereto without causing inconvenience and disarran gement of the other reference members in the innex or file. A supply of sheets or cards like Ali, l2 or 43, is all that is required, which may be, it' desired, of thinner material than the original reference members, together with a. number of adhesive strips or connecting members, such as shown at 45 and 46.

lVhen a plurality of cards or the like are added to the reference member as above described, the structure formed somewhat resembles a book wherein the leaves or' the same are independently7 swingable to allow ready reference to the data upon the pages thereof. The'book so formed, however, is provided with a rearwardly extending' base member, which is adapted to be engaged by a retaining strip or the like, and be mounted in or upon a supporting iframe. In another respect, this construction unlike a book in that one of the leaves is provided i Yith a margin :30 which extends beyond the margins of the remaining leaves upon which may be written or otherwise indicated the' subject matter contained upon the various pag-es adjacent and secured thereto. Vxlhen a plurality ot such reference members are mounted in mei-lapping arrangement in or upon a sin porting frame, in an index or Ele, ot the type under consideration, the exposed margins 50 of the page illustrated by the flap 23 are exposed to view one above or below the other as shown in Fig. l.

lVhile I have illustrated and described some preferred terms ot my invention, it will be understood that the same not to be limited to the exact details shown but is capable ot many modilications and variations which will lie within the spirit of the invention and the scope ot the appended. claims.

It is obvious, -for example, that the base portions of the cards may be mounted on their support, panel, drawer or the like, by various means other than those :'11 ated, as required by various conditions, without in any way losing or sacrificing the advanes ot my invention. lllhat I claim is:

l. A reference card or the like, consisting et a base portion, a flap portion, means hingedly connecting said portions together', said connecting means being integral with both portions and spaced apart whereby elongated openings are provided between said portions,`

and means adapted to support an additional card, said means passing through one of the openings so formed.

2. A reference member or the like, consisting of a base portion, a iiap portion, means to connect said portions to each other coinprising spaced connect-ing members integral with both portions, said connecting members spacing said portions apart whereby openings are formed between said portions, and means secured to the rear surface of said flap portion extending through one of the openings and adapted to support a separate member upon' the `front of said flap.

3. In an index or iile, a reference member comprising a base portion and a plurality ot tlap portions connected together at their adjacent edges with their opposite edges tree, and bendable means connecting said i'lap portions to said base portion, said means heilig integral with said base portion and one ot' said flap portions.

4. In an index or Eile, a reference member comprising a base portion adapted to be detachably connected to a supporting frame, a plurality of flap portions secured to each other at an edge of each, the opposite edge ot each being free, one of said flap portions being integrally connected to said base portion.

5. In an index orlile, a reference member comprising a base portion adapted to be detachably connected to a supporting frame, a plurality of flap portions secured. thereto, one of said iiap portions being integrally connected to said base portion and having a margin thereof ext-ending` below the margin ot' a remaining flap portion. e

6. In an index or tile, a reference member comprising a base portion, and a plurality of Aflap portions, one of said ilap portions being integrally connected at an edge thereof to said base portion, and an edge ot' a remaining flap portion being secured to the connected edge of said first-mentioned liap portion, Y

7. In anv index or file, a reference member comprising a base portion and a plurality of flap portions, one of said flap portions being hingedly connected at one edge thereof to said base portion by means integral with both, and a remaining lap portion being hingedly secured upon said first-mentio-ned flap portion coaxially with said connecting means. V

8. In an index or iile, a reference member comprising a base portion and a plurality or flap portions, one oit said 'dag portions being hingedly connected to said base portion by means integral with both, and remaining flap portion being hingedly secured upon said iirst-mentioned i'iap portion by means cooperating with the connected edge of said lirst-mentioned flap portion.

9. In an index or tile, a reference member comprising a base portion having a plurality of tia-p portions supported thereby, an edge of one of said flap portions being spaced from said base portion and connected thereto by a plurality of spaced hinged members and means to support the remaining flap portion upon the connected edge of said tirst-men tion'ed ap portion.

l0.v In an index or file, a reference member comprising a base portion having a plurality of flap portions supported thereby, one of said flap portions being spaced from said base portion and connected thereto by a plurality of spaced hinged members, and means to support the remaining iiap portion, said means extending over the edge of said firstmentioned flap portion between the same and said base portion.

1l. In an index or iile, a reference member comprising a base portion having a plurality of flap portions supported thereby, one of said iap portions being spaced from said base portion and connected thereto by a plurality of spaced hinged members, and means to support the remaining flap portions, said means extending between the first-mentioned flap portion and said base portion.

l2. In an index or tile, a reference member comprising a. base portion and a plurality or" iiap portions, one of said flap portions being spaced Jfrom said base portion and connected thereto by a plurality of spaced hinged members, the remaining` iiap portions being sus pended upon the edge of said first-mentioned flap portion between the same and said base portion..

13. In an index or file, a reference member comprising a base portion and a plurality or iap portions, means to connect one of said flap portions to said base portion, and means passing between said inst-mentioned means for supporting a remai iing iiap portion.

1d. In an index or lile, a reference member comprising a base portion having a flap portion spaced therefrom and connected thereto, an additional reference member on each side of said flap portion, and means for connect gether, said means extending` between said base portion and said flap portion.

l5. In an index orpile, a reference member comprising a base portion having a flap portion spaced therefrom and connected thereto, additional reterence members and means connecting an edge of each of said additional members together and to an edge or' viiap portion.

I6. In an index or tile, a reference mem` ber having an opening adjacent one of its margins, means passing through said opening, a record-bearing member superimposed upon the 'ront surface of said reference member, and another record-bearing mem,- ber superimposed upon the rear surface of said reference member, said record-bearing members being hingedly connected by said means yand supported thereby upon said reference member.

17. In an index or file, a reference member comprising a base portion and a flap portion hinged thereto and integral therewith, and a record-bearing member supported upon said flap portion by a member overlapping the marginal edge of said flap portion adjacent said base portion.

I8. In an index or tile, a reference mem ber comprising a support-engaging portion and a flap portion hinged thereto and integral therewith, other members superimposed upon said iiap portion, and means overlapping the margin of said iiap portion, adjacent said suppo-rt-engaging portion, for supporting said, members thereon.

19. In an index or file, a reference member comprising a support-engaging portion and a flap portion hinged thereto and integral therewith, a pair of members connected together by a looped member and straddling said iiap portion.

20. In an index or file,v the combination of a reference member having an opening intermediate its upper and lower margins, with a pair of cards connected together by a looped member, said looped member passing through said opening and straddling said reference member adjacent the opening.

21. In an index or file, a reference member comprising a support-engaging portion and a flap portion, a pair of members superimposed upon said flap portion, and means straddling said flap portion for securing said pair of members together.

22. In an index or file, a reference member comprising a. support-engaging portion and a iiap portion, a pair of members superimposed upon said flap portion, and means straddling said liap portion for securing said pair of members to said flap portion.

23. In an index or le, a :trame member, a plurality of reference members arranged in overlapped relation on said frame member with a margin of each exposed to View,

ing said additional reference members to one of said reference members being pro-Y vided With means straddling a portion thereof, engageable With an additional member to support the same upon said first-mentioned member.

24. In an index or file, a support having a plurality of reference members mounted thereon, one of said reference members being provided with means straddling a portion of itself, engageable with an additional member to support the same upon said firstmentioned member.

25. In an index or file, a reference member including a base portion capable of being mounted upon a supporting frame, a flap integral with and hinged to said base portion, and a pair of cards connected together and straddling said iap portion. l

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 17 day of January, 1924.

ALFRED E. HUNT. 

